Visible index



W. A. RINGLER VISIBLE INDEX Oet. 15, 1929.

. INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS' Oct. 15, 1929. w. A. RINGLER 1,731,543

VISIBLE INDEX Filed neo. 5, 1924 2 sheets-sneer -2 Y* ../Z 0 X; '.'I3; l "i'' '2 o l NV EN TOR.' W z'Z l am frz'ngier ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED ls'raTi-es PATENT lorries WILLIAM'A. RINGLR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLOBE- WERNICKE CO., A `COlR-IORAIION OF OHIO VISIBLE INDEX Application filed December 5, 1924. Serial No. 754,021.y

This invention relates to visible index devices, and particularly to the type known as line indexes in which a series of index strips are interchangeably supported in a frame so as to be visible for inspection at any time.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved line index in which the index elements may be formed from stamped sheet material; with which the index elements may be interchanged or rearranged as desired; with which the area available for display purposes may be varied as desired wit-hout wasting of space; and which will be relatively simple, convenient, durable and relatively inexpensive.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of two embodiments of the invention, and the novel features willbe particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims. Y

In the accompanying drawings :-,Y

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 represent elevations of mounting and protecting strips, forming a part of the invention; p

Figs. 4, 6 and 8 represent elevations of va rious dilferent index bearing strips as prepared ready for attachmentto the supporting and protecting strips of Figs. 1 to 3;

Figs. 5, 7 and 9 are transverse sectional elevations through Figs. 1, 2 and 3y after the index strips have been attached thereto;

Fig. l() is a front elevation of the supporting strip and indexstrip of Figs.- 1 and 4, when attached together;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional plan of the same, with the section taken substantially along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig-12 is a front elevation of the support or strip shown inFig. 2 carrying the index striprof Fig. 8 in a relation different from that shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 13 is an elevation .of a portion ofa supporting frame, in which are mounted a plurality of different types of index elements constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation-taken transverselythrough the assembled index` elements of Fig. 13, and showing the interlocking connections -between them;

Fig. 15 is an elevation of the blank from which the index strips are torn' after having the information typed thereon; and

F ig. 16 is a perspective of a modified einbodiinent of the lsupporting and-protecting strip which may be utilized interchangeably or in substitution for those shown in the preceding figures.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 15, a plurality of different types of supporting and protecting strips 1, 2 and 3,.are provided, which are formed of flexible sheet transparent material, such as sheet Celluloid. These strips are of different widths, but all of the saine length, and from the interior of each strip and adjacent to, but spaced from, the ends thereof oppositely extending tongues 4 are struck out, the tongues in each strip being preferably in alignment and extending toward one another from their lines of connection to the body of the strip. A pluralityl of strips of each type, 1, 2 and 3, will be required in order to provide a complete set.

A plurality of paper blanks 5 A(see Fig. 15) will be provided for use in connection with the various sizes of supporting strips 1, 2 and 3. Each blank 5 is provided with rows of apertures 6 along, but spaced from, opposite side edges, and the blank is provided with transverse lines of perforations 7, which divide the blank -.into strip-like zones 8, the apertures 6 being provided centrally of the widths of the zones in which they occur at intervals along the blank. The blank 5, shown in Fig. 15, is separated into sections by tearing of the same along the perforated lines 7, each section comprising three or more Zone strips 8. The blanket' Fig 15 may be separated into sections of equal or different widths, the sections having a width corresponding to three zone strips being designated by the character a, and the sections having a width of four zone strips being designated by the character l).

Itwill be understood, of course, that before the blank is separated into the sections a and Z), etc., the indexing information .will be typed or placed thereon, since each section assists in v in Fig. 5.

leading the other sections into a typewriting machine when the typing is done prior to the separation of the blank into its sections. In separating the blank into sections, the separation will be effected in such a manner that the apertures 6 of each sect-ion willbe in the second zone strip from one side edge, for a reason which will appear as the description proceeds, v

Thev section a is utilized where the visible portion of the strip has a width corresponding to one zone strip 8, and where double the width is desired, the section b is utilized hav! ing two zone strips below the zone strip with the apertures 6 therein. Obviously, the sec tions could have greater widths if desired and the supporting strips, similar to those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,-but of greater width, would be provided for use therewith.

Each section of the blank is attached to a supporting strip 1, 2 or 3, first folding the sin gle zone strip above the edge of the apertures to form an interlocking flange c and then inserting the tongues l of the supporting strips through the apertures 6 adjacent opposite edges of the index section. In doing this, the index section is flexed transversely intermediate of its ends to bring the apertures together slightly to permit of the insertion of the tongues 4 into the apertures, whereupon a straightening out of the index section or strip will cause t-he tongues to enter the apertures and effectively anchor the index section or strip to the supporting strip. The index unit or element thus provided is then inserted between the opposed guideways l extending along the sides of a supporting frame e (Fig.

For the index sections or strips b, either of the carrier strips 2 or 3 is utilized, depending upon whether or not the spacing between successive elements is to be increased or decreased, and the carrier strip 2 is also used for the index sections a where an increase in the visible margin is desired for the index element next above. The carrier strips 2 t-hus have a double function, being used in the position shown in Fig. 2 for one purpose, and in an inverted position for another purpose, as will appear shortly.

In Fig. 5, the small size index strip or section a, suoli as shown in Fig. 4f., is attached to the small sized support or carrier strip 1 of Fig. 1. The index strip is attached to the carrier, with the flange 0 of the index strip extending over upon its outer face as shown If all of the index strips were to have merely an exposed margin corresponding to one zone strip, it would be' only necessary to provide carrier strips 1 of anequal size, and such elements could then be assembledY in the frame e' between the guideways d, with the flange c of each element hooked over the upper edge of the next lower carrier strip as shown in Figs. 13 andv 14'.

Referring to Fig. 7,the indexstrip or section a is illustrated as attached to the carrier strip shown in Fig. 2, with the portion of the carrier strip 2 above the index strip equal to two zone strips, so that when an element formed in this manner is placed in the frame shown in Fig. 13, the upper edge, in interlocking with the flange c of the index element next above, will spacethe edge of that element double the width usually' exposed and, therefore, the index element next above could extend downwardly 'for a greater distance than one zone, making an exposed marginal portion having a width of two zone strips.

In Fig. 9, the large index section or strip b is attached to a carrier strip 3, shown in Fig. 3, and inasmuch as it has' a width of two zone strips below theapertures 6, it may carry considerable extra information suchas a telephone number or other speciali information. Such an index element as shown in Fig. 9, when placed next above an element such as shown in Fig. 7, would have its lower edge extending just above the. lower zone strip of the index section a and would extend two zone strips above for the same reason as'for Fig. 7. By similar combinations of the strips a and with the strips 1, 2 and 3, the visible margins of the successive elements' may be varied as required without having any waste space between the successive elements.

By way of example of the various combinations, which may be effected, reference may be had particularly to Figs. 13 and 14.' The lowermost carrier strip 1 carries a single line of information having a width of one zone strip and, therefore, it carries an index section a. The element lnext above also carries a single line of display information (the name D. David) and, therefore,` the index strip a will be utilized as a part of'such element next above, but since the element next above .it (bearing the name J. Brown) is to display a visible marginal edge corresponding to twov zone strips in width, the index sectiona will be attached to a carrier strip' 2, utilizing the carrier stripl in the upright position shown in Fig. 2, that is, with the index strip attached to the ylower portion thereof as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7. The third element from the bottom (bearing the name J. Brown) will utilize a carrier strip 3 with an index strip since the fourth element from the bottom (the one next above it) also has an exposed visible margin two zone strips in width.

The fourth element from the bottom also is to have an exposed marginal edge of two' zone strips in width and, therefore, one of the index sections b will be utilized in that element. Inasmuch as the element next above it (the topv element) is to have a marginal edge of but a single zone strip in Width, the index section b will be attached to one of the carrier strips 2, but the carrier strip 2, before the attachment thereto of the index section, will be inverted from the position shown in Fig, 2 to of a carrier strip,*when nested beneath the that shown in Fig. 12, so that the shortest marginal edge from the tongues will be uppermost. This index section b carries the name Geo Bray and Son (see Figs. 12 and 13).

The uppermost index element having the name J no. Ball Corporation utilizes an index strip a which is attached to a carrier strip 1, and the flange c of this index strip a will engage over the upper edge of the strip 2 carrying the index section bearing the name Geo Bray and Son, in such a manner that when the flange c hooks over the upper edge ot' the inverted carrier strip 2, it will cooperate with such strip in the same manner as if the strip 2 had been a single line strip. These examples illustrate how the spacing may be increased or decreased as desired, and it will be understood that this is illustrative of the possibilities only, and that by selecting proper sizes of the carrier strips and index strips, exposed marginal edges of any number of zone strips in Width may be utilized. j

In the eventthat one desires to remove one of the index elements and replace it by another With a marginal edge of a different width from that of the one displayed, or if one of the elements is to be removed entirely and the others closed in to fill the gap, it may be necessary to change the carrier strip for the index sections next above or below the space where an element is removed or replaced, in order to obtain the desired spacing.

Where the sheet material of the carrier strips and of the paper forming index sections is suliiciently heavy, the upper edges of the carrier strips should always be spaced from the face of the supporting frame e sutilciently to allow the bent over flange of the element next above to hook over the same and determine the spacing, but in order to insure a proper spacing of the upper edge from the tace of the frame, the carrier strips may be formed as shown in Fig. 16. In that embodiment, the carrier strip 9 is notched, as at 10, upon the upper edges so as to expose the tongues 11, (corresponding to the tongues 4c of the preceding embodiment), 'from the upper edge, rand the upper edge between the tongues and the ends of the strip will be iianged rearwardly slightly, as at 12, so as to keep the upper edge ot each carrier strip spaced from the face o1' the supporting frame.

In view of the fact that the tongues lV project into the space beneath the tnrned over iange o, the tongues may at times interfere with the free interlocking action of the flanges e with the edge of thev nextlower carrier strip, but by providing the notches 10,

as in Fig. 16, so that the portion 13 of the upper edge of the carrier which projects upwardly the furthest, or has the greatest width, will be centrally between the tongues, this difliculty is avoided. The portion'l YWidth might be at the ends, and t flange o of. the element next above, cannot engage with the tongues of that element. It will be understood, ofv course, that if desired, the portion of the carrier of Greatest lie portion between the tongues made of the minimum width and provided with a flange, similar to flange 12,y to obtain the desired spacing of the upper edge from the face of the supporting frame. .y

. -Intheuse of the index devices, which have ,been described. for each supporting trame e, a supply of carrier' strips-of the different sizes shown in Figs.l 1, 2or3, or other sizes and a stock of blanks shown in Fig; 15 will be provided, and from these, any desired arrangements of the index elements may be provided, with any element having an exposed marginal edge of any desired Width, the manner of making the diferent elombinations being apparent from the preceding description.. Any combination thus made, may be changed by the 'manner explained, so that it has the capabilities of expansion or rearrangement to fit changing conditions, and to providel for rearrangements into any desired combinations'of index elements.

Inasmuch as the index sections-or strips are detachable'from the carrier strips, the discarding of anindex strip, which is merely paper, will not necessitate the discarding of the carrier strip, since the latter may be placedin stock and used with other index strips. The carrier strips may be stamped from sheet Celluloid or other similar materials, and the blanks 15 may also be formed by stamping the same Jfrom sheet paper, with the result that the devices Will be very inexpensive and light in weight.

It will be -understood that various changes in the kdetails and materials, which have -beenrherein described and illustrated for the purpose ot explaining the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and vscope of the invention, as expressed in thel appended claims.

I claim:

1. In aVv visible index device, an index element comprising an elongated strip oftransparent material, and an index strip secured to the underfaceof the transparent strip with the upper portion of the transparent strip extendingrbeyond the index strip, said index ystrip having a flange upon its upper edge bent over upon its outer face to interlockwith the edge ofthe next adjacent element.

2. In a visible index device, an index element comprising an elongated strip ot transparent material, and an index strip detachably secured to the underface of the transparent strip adjacent its lower marginal portion, and having its upper edge, which lies intermediate the upper and lower edges ofthe transparent strip, flanged to interlock with `an adjacent-.element and cause an overlapping of such index elements when assembled in a fra-me.

3. In a visible index device, an index elementcomprising an elongated strip of transparentmaterial, and an. index strip attached to the underface of the transparent strip adj acent its lower marginal portion, and having a flanged portion, intermediate the upper and lower edges of the transparentstrip, extending downwardly to form a hook interlocking with 'the next lower adjacent element when the elements are assembled in a frame. l

4. In a visible index device,.an index element comprising an elongated strip of trans:- parent material, and an index strip detachably attached to the underface of the trans'- parent strip adjacent its lower marginal portion', and having a flanged portion, intermediate the upper and lower edges of the transparent strip, extending downwardly to form a hook interlocking with the next lower adjacent element when the elementsare assembled in a frame.

5. In a visible index device, an index element comprising an elongated strip of transparentsheet material having integral tongues struck from the interior thereof, and an index strip disposed on the underface of the transparent strip and carried by said tongues wit-h the transparent strip extending beyond the upper longitudinal edge of the index strip, the index strip having a flanged portion upon its rear face to interlock with an adjacent element `and cause an overlapping of adjacent elements.

6. In a visible index device, an index element comprising an elongated strip of transparent sheet material, an index strip secured tothe underface thereof so as to be visible therethrough and with the upper portion of the transparent strip extending beyond the index strip, said index strip havingv a portion projecting from its rear face to interlock with an adjacent element and space such elements in overlapping relation when yassembled together in a frame.

7. In a visible index device, a carrier for Aindex strips comprising an elongated strip of sheet material having integral tongues struck therefrom, and also having a lateral extension in the plane of the strip at a point spaced from the tongues, which may engage with an adjacent index element for spacing purposes.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER. 

